Laugher (1996/2006)

(click on the song to play)
1. ballerina (for katia)
2. white horse
3. mine
4. it always comes down to you
5. long
6. nothing left
7. all of this will stay
8. the sky will fall
9. painted myself
10. marty
11. weather vane

Between 1983 and 1996, beginning when he was 12 years old, Michael recorded and distributed 34 hand-drawn, home-made cassette tapes. Laugher, which included material written and recorded over the course of nearly three years, was the last. Highlighted by the same lateral songwriting he would employ to great effect on 2004's Songs Without Hooks, Laugher also benefits from liberal doses of the old Fender Strat. This release marks the beginning of a massive remastering project, which will involve reissues of at least 10 of the original albums, fully remastered and sounding better than ever!

Cassette 34: Laugher (1996)
Originally released: 1996
Remastered: July and August, 2006
Recorded in New City, NY
and Boston, MA circa 1995/6

All songs written and produced by Michael Novick
MKN: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards
Tom Maher: drums on all of this will stay and painted myself
Fil Pacino: lead guitar on all of this will stay and painted myself
Jason Redi: bass on all of this will stay and painted myself


white horse

he bites his tongue / she looks away / he is no fun / she lives today / she is a young girl and he is an old hand with thinning hair / she is a gambler and he is a source / she rides a white horse / we watch them fight / laughing in turn / she's in the light / he'd only burn / she is a young girl and he is an old dog with one eye blind / she is a fighter and he just takes his course / she rides a white horse / he bides his time / she looks for air / he sees her heart / she dances for him slowly / she is a dancer and he has a song he made for her to dance to / but she is a white horse and he is a man / they do the best they can / she is a young girl and he is an old hand with thinning hair

mine

you are lightning / you are frightening / and something falls inside me / you say, "it's only me -don't you understand? you always did" / and time is a tap from a rose / you are a story / you are glory / you are for me / something somebody said to me / makes me wanna try to reach out / and i'm alive / you are a story / you are glory / you are for me / my mind is off and on / my time, wasting / my thoughts erasing you / it's just as well / i could've lied to you / and made your whole life bright / and time is a water dam / you are a story / you are glory / you are for me

it always comes down to you

i'm touched / i'm freed / you've got and i need / stop crying little tears / it's not as bleak / as it appears / you could leave it all behind you / break the spells that bind you / take some time to find you / no matter what i do / it always comes down to you / damn your claim to fame / you're too young to be in pain / and i've seen / your broken soul / you feel so small / yeah, your eyes are low / you could leave it all behind you / break the spells that bind you / take some time to find you / no matter what i do / it always comes down to you / shadows fall across your face / there may never be a place for us / so crawl into another world / you could leave it all behind you / break the spells that bind you / take some time to find you / no matter what i do / it always comes down to you / lift your eyes / taste the rain / you'll never be the same

long

she's not like this world / she doesn't feel rain like i do / you might say she's hard / but she's sure to soften you / i'd give her my heart / but i'd rather die / she'd just get confused / her lips would go dry / but even after all of that / and even though i know it's wrong / i've loved her so long / when night is everywhere / and i can't close my eyes / she always finds me there / and cuts me down to size / i could say we don't belong / but it would always come out wrong / she hit the highway clean / and latched on to a star / i'd show her to my home / but i can't walk that far / even after all of that / even though i know it's wrong / it's just been so long

nothing left

i'd love to wake you / drive past the water / what do you see looking at me? / you may be sorry, but / you're only half expected to be / i gave you everything / there was nothing left for me / something is breaking / something so small / something like me / you couldn't see it / you may be sorry, but / you're only half expected to be / i gave you everything / there was nothing left for me / you may be sorry, but / you're only half expected to be / i gave you everything / there was nothing left for me

all of this will stay

the air, the walls, the hinges of the screen door / the hum of lights, my own broken breath / music, subtle / fingernails against skin / a tree, the sun / my spinnning conscience / your voice and "goodbye" / all of this will stay / your hair, twisting into gold / and i stumble / your eyes, punching holes in mine / i think, i speak / and it's not the same / your heat, my dream / splitting each other / and your voice is the swell in my chest / calling from the fringes of the day / "all of this will stay" / your flaming breath across my back / the sleepless nights, i can't keep track / call me weak / you never will know / the strength it took to let you go / the distance screams and i try to keep little pieces / but i cry, "more, more, more" / it never comes / i fight to close the gap, but it grows / and you say, "you can keep me in your head" / and what i've come to know / and the sweet words that you say / all of this will stay

the sky will fall

the sky will fall / and my life will fall / and your eyes will fall / and that'll be all / it's hard to say something so right / the sky will fall / and this tower, too / and this angel off my shoulder / and that's all / i'm not what i seem to be / i'm not your reflection / i'm not your device / if you see me a first time / you'll never look twice / my fist will fall / and my armor next / and let's not say the rest / and your head will spin / and you'll take it away / and you'll see me someday / and i'll bite my lip / and i'll swallow the spit / and i'll wash off the blood / and the sky will fall / and my life will fall / and your eyes will fall / and that'll be all / and the earth will burn / and the city will turn / and you'll never return

painted myself

wearing nothing but her shoes / high-heeled diva / and i'd do anything to please her / i stare at the wall / it's closing in / i wasn't prepared for this kind of sin / painted myself dark / watched her slip away / held her beating heart / let the world go grey / in the depths of dream / i touched an angel's hair / brought myself to life / couldn't stand the glare / my body's weak / my will is small / it's got to be this / or nothing at all / i spat in your face / while shaking your hand / it's such a disgrace / i can't understand / painted myself dark / threw myself in shame / made a perfect scene / cast away the blame / in the depths of dream / i saw her everywhere / brought myself to light / couldn't stand the glare / sara left home in december / got herself into a jam / thought she had a part in the play / but couldn't act in her platform shoes / scent of lolita / you look like a child / but that's just a disguise / your conscience is haunted / your soul is on fire / but i am undaunted / i can't control my desire / painted myself dark / watched her slip away / held her bleeding heart / let the world go grey / in the depths of dream / i touched an angel's hair / brought myself to light / couldn't stand the glare

marty

on my way home / i caught myself counting cars / and just like a dream / marty appeared / touching stars / and nothing's the same / and she'll never know / how time's ticking slowly away / a white, satin day / snow falling, angry / on me and my girl / i turned you away / i'm sorry for that / but i know someday you'll understand / and nothing's the same / and she'll never know / how time's ticking slowly away